Caught by the Fuzz

"Caught By The Fuzz"
Single by Supergrass
from the album I Should Coco
B-side	"Strange Ones" (7") "Caught by the Fuzz (Acoustic)" (CD)
Released	24 October 1994 (UK)
Format	CD, 7" single, Cassette
Recorded	Sawmills Studio, 1994
Genre	Britpop, pop punk
Length	02:17
Label	Parlophone
Writer(s)	Gaz Coombes Danny Goffey Mick Quinn
Producer	Sam Williams John Cornfield
Supergrass singles chronology
"Caught By The Fuzz" (1994) "Mansize Rooster" (1995)
Alternative Cover Backbeat Records release

"Caught by the Fuzz" was the first single by Britpop band Supergrass.

Background

Supergrass had released "Caught by the Fuzz" and "Mansize Rooster" as singles on Backbeat Records, which sold out quickly and gained the interest of record producer Sam Williams, who then offered to record some demos of the band's other songs at Sawmills Studio. These acclaimed demos attracted major label interest, and after an A&R scrutinised gig at the Jericho Tavern in Oxford, they managed to secure a deal with Parlophone. Despite being a new and obscure band critics welcomed Supergrass as a voice of youth, in part because they were so young, but also because their music was fresh, exuberant and fast-paced. Even before being signed to a major label "Caught by the Fuzz" had been put at number five on John Peel's Festive 50 of 1994. Although Supergrass had not been around long they were named Band Of The Month in FHM after only two singles on Parlophone, and were supporting acts such as Blur, The Bluetones and Shed Seven.

Music and lyrics

The song is written around the true-life incident of lead singer Gaz Coombes' arrest and caution, for being caught in possession of cannabis at the age of fifteen. One of the members of the Seattle rock band Presidents of the United States of America said in regards to "Caught by the Fuzz"; "This song is exactly what being a teenager sounds like."

Reception

The single just missed out on the Top 40 by reaching #43 in the UK Singles Chart, but failed to chart in the United States. The song was also notably included in John Peel's Festive 50 at number five at the time of its release in 1994.

On one occasion Supergrass played "Caught by the Fuzz" on Top of the Pops via satellite. The film pictured Mick Quinn wearing a T-shirt with Hugh Grant's mug shot printed onto it, (this was around the time Hugh Grant was arrested for lewd conduct with a prostitute) which suggested a connection with the actor and the overall theme of the Supergrass song. This was probably to make up for the fact that the band were not allowed to use this same photo for the cover of "Caught by the Fuzz" (See Single Artwork below for more.)

During one performance at Leicester University Ball, Supergrass convinced a real policeman to introduce the song.

On a final night of supporting the Foo Fighters in Europe, Taylor Hawkins of the band joined Supergrass to play the drums on "Caught by the Fuzz". In an interview on "A Home Movie: Documentary" from Supergrass Is 10, Danny Goffey recalls Hawkins playing the drums "at about 500 miles per hour".

Versions and release history

The single was initially released in August 1994 on Backbeat Records, with a limited number of copies pressed (it is believed that more copies have been pressed since Supergrass signed to Parlophone), on only a 7" vinyl format. "Caught by the Fuzz" was on the A-side, and "Strange Ones" the B-side. They are, however, both slightly different versions from the ones that can be found on later releases (ie. those on the Parlophone label). In 1994, before appearing on their debut album I Should Coco, the song was released on an EP put out by record company Fierce Panda, entitled Crazed and Confused.

"Caught by the Fuzz" was used as the closing theme tune of the 2007 movie, Hot Fuzz, and features on the official soundtrack album.

The sleeve cover is a black and white caricature of a policeman pointing his finger accusingly, encapsulating the idea of being 'caught by the fuzz'. A mug shot of Hugh Grant (this was around the time Hugh Grant was arrested for lewd conduct with a prostitute) was originally intended to be the artwork of the United States single sleeve, but the idea was later dropped after Grant's lawyers complained

The video is a montage of footage of the band, onstage and offstage, filmed on a Super 8 camera. It was also the directors, Dom and Nic's, first ever music video.

The music video for the single appears in the United States animation Beavis & Butthead episode "Sprout" (1996). There is also an alternate version of the music video, which was released in the US using a similar video collage effect of footage of Supergrass in America instead. There is an unofficially released video for the acoustic version of "Caught by the Fuzz" as well, which was filmed in the same fashion as the original "Caught by the Fuzz" music video, except using different footage and with the addition of some scenes of Morris dancers.

Formats and track listing

Backbeat 7” single

1. “Caught by the Fuzz (Alternate version) ” (2:14)
2. “Strange Ones (Alternate version) ” (3:56)

CD single

1. "Caught by the Fuzz" (2:17)
2. "Strange Ones" (3:39)
3. "Caught by the Fuzz (Acoustic)" (3:02)

7" single / Cassette

1. "Caught by the Fuzz" (2:17)
2. "Strange Ones" (3:39)

Chart positions

Chart (1994)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	43

Personnel

• Gaz Coombes - vocals, guitar
• Danny Goffey - drums
• Mick Quinn - bass